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Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma formed a formidable opening partnership for India starting with the 2013 Champions Trophy.
(From left) MS Dhoni, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma (AFP Photo)
Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma formed one of the greatest opening partnerships in ODI history. The two first came together as openers at the 2013 Champions Trophy and from thereon, went on to become the fourth most successful opening pair in ODI history.
Between 2013 and 2022, Dhawan and Rohit combined to add 5148 runs at an average of 45.55 in 115 innings – the fourth best aggregate as ODI openers after Sachin Tendulkar-Sourav Ganguly (6609), Adam Gilchrist-Matthew Hayden (5372) and Gordon Greenidge-Desmond Haynes (5150).
Dhawan, who retired from all forms of cricket last year, has revealed that the momentous decision to pair him with Rohit was taken by legendary MS Dhoni a day before India’s opening match of the 2013 Champions Trophy against South Africa in Cardiff.
Prior to that match, both Rohit and Dhawan had five innings each as openers. Following their success in the ICC tournament, India stuck with the combination for nearly a decade.
“This opening pair decision was made half a day prior to that match. At that time, I was also new, and I was in my own world. I had made a comeback and needed to perform well. But MS Dhoni took this decision and instructed Rohit to open,” Dhawan said in a special series titled ‘The Shikhar Dhawan Experience’ on Star Sports and JioHotstar.
Dhawan and Rohit added 127 runs in their first innings together as openers.
“I thought if Rohit opens, we’ll enjoy batting together. We got such a great start in the first match. We were at 100 without losing a wicket. We didn’t score 30-35 runs up to the 10th over because the wicket was seaming. But I never thought that our pair would be so massive and we would play together for 10 years,” Dhawan said.
